Japan will never possess nuclear weapons, says official

Tokyo, April 20 (Xinhua) Japan will never possess nuclear weapons, a top government official said Monday, dismissing recent suggestions by former finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa to acquire nuclear weapons. “There is no doubt that we will continue firmly maintaining our policy of (upholding) the three non-nuclear principles” of not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons in Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told a news conference here.

Kawamura said in response to Nakagawa’s remarks about “nuclear counters nuclear”, referring to North Korea’s announcement that it would resume its nuclear programme.

Earlier this month, another Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker also said at a party meeting that Japan should have nuclear weapons in light of Pyongyang’s rocket launch April 5.